Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged to cut the annual migration numbers and cease the country’s policy to intake refugees, during his Sunday campaign with the issue of immigration on top.
According to Reuters news reports, the growing migration and the over-crowding of Australia’s major cities are always sensitive issues of all times amongst the voters where around 29 per cent of about 25.3 million people born overseas and migration level outstrip the birthrate.
“Managing our population growth is very important to the quality of life that we have in our cities,” Morrison said on Sunday, from a Liberal party rally in Sydney.
According to the country’s Bureau of statistics, the net overseas migration in a year to last year September was around 240,100.
The prime minister stated if his government gets re-elected in the coming election, it would cap annual migrant numbers at 160,000 people per year for the next coming four years.
Morrison has also said his government would cease the annual refugee intake at 18,750 people. The Labor Party’s opposition intended to increase the annual refugee intake to 27,000 by 2025.
The Labor’s campaign has majorly focused over increased spending for health, welfare and education, and on Sunday its leader, Bill Shorten, pledged A$4 billion ($2.82 billion) worth of childcare to a million low-income families, including 15 hours a week of free pre-school, if elected.
During a rally in Melbourne, Shorten said, “It’s time that we rewarded mums for participating in the economy instead of penalizing families.” He also vowed free dental care to aged people.